Why Egyptian buyers source scrap from Europe
Egypt runs one of North Africa's largest secondary metals industries — steel rebar mills across the Delta and Suez industrial zones consume enormous HMS tonnages, copper rod mills feed the domestic cable industry, aluminum secondary smelters supply the extrusion and die-casting industry, and brass hardware producers serve the domestic and export markets. Domestic scrap collection cannot fill melt-shop demand; imports fill the balance. European scrap is preferred for consistent ISRI quality, verifiable EU origin documentation, and short freight transit (7–10 days Rotterdam to Alexandria) that minimises LME exposure.
Products we ship to Egypt
HMS 1&2, plate & structural steel — the largest category, feeding rebar mills in Alexandria, Suez and 10th of Ramadan City. Copper: Millberry, Candy, Chops, Birch/Cliff — for Egyptian copper cable and rod manufacturers. Aluminum: 6063 extrusion, UBC bales, Taint/Tabor, Tense, Troma wheels — for secondary smelters and re-rollers. Brass: Honey and mixed brass — for the Egyptian brass hardware industry and export brass fitting producers.
Shipping routes to Egypt
From Rotterdam we serve three primary Egyptian ports: Alexandria (largest general-cargo port, serving the Nile Delta industrial belt), Damietta (deep-water port serving central Delta and 10th of Ramadan City), and Ain Sokhna (Red Sea port serving Suez industrial zones and Upper Egypt). Direct sailings Rotterdam → Alexandria run 7–10 days on Maersk, MSC and CMA-CGM. Ain Sokhna via Mediterranean transhipment 12–15 days total. Contract-to-loaded lead time 7–14 days.
GOEIC registration and pre-shipment inspection
Egypt's General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) requires foreign suppliers of many scrap categories to be registered in Egypt's importer registry, and requires pre-shipment inspection by an approved agency (typically SGS or Bureau Veritas). Nautica Metal Scrap B.V. is registered with GOEIC as a qualifying foreign supplier. Every shipment carries an SGS or BV pre-shipment inspection certificate covering purity, moisture, and freedom from prescribed contaminants. The inspection is scheduled at our Rotterdam yard and the certificate travels with the B/L to Egyptian customs.
Documentation for Egyptian customs clearance
Every container ships with: commercial invoice (Arabic legalisation via Egyptian Consulate in the Netherlands on request), packing list, weighbridge tickets, container photographs, bill of lading, certificate of origin (attested by Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce and, where required, legalised by the Egyptian Consulate), SGS/BV pre-shipment inspection certificate, and EU Annex VII movement document. HS codes correctly declared (7204 HMS, 7404 copper, 7602 aluminum). Consular legalisation adds 3–5 business days and is planned at contract signature.
Payment terms and LC handling
Egyptian buyers typically transact by irrevocable LC at sight, advised through National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr, Commercial International Bank (CIB), QNB Alahli or HSBC Egypt via our Rotterdam banking. 30% TT advance + 70% LC at sight is available for repeat accounts. UCP 600 governs. Given Egyptian FX regulation, the buyer must confirm CBE (Central Bank of Egypt) FX allocation before LC issuance — we plan the schedule around this.
Buyer KYC and eligibility
KYC pack required: Egyptian commercial register (Sigil Togary), tax card, industrial licence, GOEIC importer registration, VAT registration, most recent bank reference, and a recent utility bill. Verification 24–48 hours. We contract with licensed Egyptian end-users (mills, smelters, rod mills) and licensed importers only, not with unverified trading intermediaries.
Pricing and market pattern for Egyptian deliveries
Copper priced as percentage of LME Copper Grade A CIF Alexandria. Aluminum as percentage of LME P1020A. HMS priced against Turkish Iskenderun benchmark plus Egypt basis (typically small premium reflecting freight and duty). Short Rotterdam-Egypt transit produces competitive CIF pricing. Written quotes within 24 hours of RFQ, valid 48 hours subject to LME.